Author: Linus Månsson

HUG for Heroes event

Last week we took part in a program “HUG for Heroes” hosted by HUG – Help Ukraine Gothenburg.

HUG is a non-profit organization working in both Sweden and Ukraine, providing humanitarian support and creating opportunities for recovery, connection and new perspectives.

As part of their work, HUG organizes a 10-day recovery program in Sweden for Ukrainian veterans who have been injured and undergone amputations. The veterans are also invited to bring a family member, recognizing just how important support from those closest to you can be during recovery. During the program, participants take part in physical activities, group discussions, workshops and dedicated sessions for family members.

At the event, our founder Christoffer shared his own story – from the accident that amputated three limbs and changed his life, to rebuilding his everyday life and eventually founding Lindhe Xtend. A story about adapting, finding new possibilities and creating a meaningful life after a life-changing event.

Afterwards, the veterans had the opportunity to see and try some of our products, take part in a challenge and, of course, enjoy some Swedish candy. Family members also got a small insight into what walking with a prosthesis can feel like by trying our demo boots.

A very meaningful day, filled with conversations, shared experiences and new perspectives.

 

The Good Stuff!

Every Monday morning, while Seattle is deciding whether today’s rain is any different from yesterday’s rain, I’m already on a video call with a group of Swedes who somehow believe 6:00 a.m. is a perfectly reasonable time to discuss the future of prosthetics. To be fair, they’re always on time. And so am I.

Mostly because I’ve learned that when a Swedish company says a meeting starts at 15:00, they mean 15:00. Not 15-ish. Military time! And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

One of the things I love most about my job is that I get to spend my days learning. My colleagues have jokingly called me a “curious connector,” and they’re probably right. Every conversation teaches me something new.

That’s fortunate, because while I don’t have a clinical background and I can’t debate socket design over lunch, I am intensely curious. I ask questions, listen carefully, and try to connect the dots. In fact, I probably spend more time listening than talking.

That’s something I learned early from my father, a local politician in the Midwest. He taught me that listening was far more important than talking – a lesson that has stayed with me. I still challenge myself to be mindful of it, especially in a job where every conversation has the potential to teach me something.

And after years in O&P, I’ve noticed something: the best ideas rarely arrive fully formed. They emerge through conversations. A clinician shares a challenge. A prosthetic user shares an experience. Someone suggests a different approach. Another person questions an old assumption. Before you know it, an idea has become an innovation.

That’s the good stuff.

It’s also why I enjoy being involved with COPA. Whether it’s advocacy, education, conferences, or simply creating opportunities for people to connect, I’ve seen firsthand what happens when passionate people come together. Sometimes the most valuable thing you take home isn’t a CE credit or a product brochure. It’s a conversation, or an idea, or a new perspective.

At Lindhe Xtend, we believe mobility moves forward when people are willing to challenge convention. Not for the sake of being different, but because “that’s how we’ve always done it” has never been a particularly inspiring strategy. Progress happens when people are willing to ask questions, stay curious, and look at familiar problems with fresh eyes. That’s what I see every day in this community. It’s built into the clinicians who never stop learning, the prosthetic users who generously share their experiences, and the countless conversations that happen between them.

After all, progress isn’t just built in workshops, labs, and clinics. It’s built between people.

And that’s the good stuff.

MJ McNeece Western Territory Sales Manager USA, Lindhe Xtend

See you at OT World 2026!

OT World is back and so are we! This year you’ll get your hands on our latest prosthetic foot – the Xtend Foot Fri.
Built on the original design of the Xtend Foot, maintaining it’s 17 degrees of inversion/eversion but with the added function of Shock/Torsion!
You’ll also get the chance to meet with our new German distributor Veomedical – as they are displaying in the booth right next to ours.

So, swing by our booth (Hall 1, A09) , have a chat, try our demo boots fitted with the Xtend Foot Fri and eat some Swedish candy!

See you there!

Leipzig, Germany, May 17-19. Read more at OT World 2026.

How the Xtend Foot (and Lindhe Xtend) came to be.

Part 1

When our founder Christoffer Lindhe lost both legs and one arm in a train accident as a teenager, his life changed forever. Determined to regain his independence, he dedicated himself to years of intense training – eventually competing in two Paralympic Games.

Even with the best prosthetic components and osseointegration surgery, Christoffer found that walking outdoors with two above-knee prostheses was still extremely challenging. He needed something better – a foot that could adapt naturally to uneven ground, without having to constantly think about balance or placement.

The first idea was to build a mechanical ankle joint that mimicked the movement of a human foot. It worked well in the lab, but when Christoffer tested it himself, the result felt stiff and unnatural. Twisting the joint to create flexibility couldn’t reproduce the smooth, effortless motion of a real foot. It was clear that a new approach was needed.

Working together with prosthetists and several universities, Christoffer began exploring advanced materials. Research showed that fiberglass could bend up to three times more than carbon fiber without breaking, while carbon fiber provided better energy return. By combining both – carbon fiber in the sole for energy and fiberglass in the upper layers for flexibility – the team created a design that offered the best of both worlds.

This innovation became the foundation of the Xtend Foot – today known as the world’s most mobile prosthetic foot for side-to-side movement (inversion and eversion). Instead of relying on mechanical joints, the Xtend Foot uses flexible laminates that bend naturally and provide progressive resistance – the more they flex, the more it wants to sprint back. This allows users to walk confidently on uneven outdoor terrain, with motion that is smooth, balanced and creates a natural feeling.

When Christoffer approached major prosthetic manufacturers to bring his design to market, the response was lukewarm. Many believed existing products were already good enough. But Christoffer knew otherwise. Rather than giving up, Christoffer chose to start his own company – Lindhe Xtend.

He believed that true innovation requires competition. When only a few players dominate the market, progress will stagnate. By creating Lindhe Xtend, Christoffer made sure that the drive to improve prosthetic solutions would continue—helping himself and many other amputees around the world gain better mobility, stability, and quality of life.

So, how did it all evolve? Stay tuned for Part 2 in our next issue.

 

Veomedical Gmbh – Our new distributor in Germany

Guided by the principles Simple. Safe. Active., the Pulheim-based company Veomedical is a trusted name in the orthotics and prosthetics field. Known for their long-standing experience, strong customer focus, and deep understanding of clinical needs, Veomedical continuously seeks out new and innovative solutions that truly make a difference for clinicians and users alike. This shared commitment to innovation is one of the key reasons they chose to partner with Lindhe Xtend.

Starting today, we are proud to announce that Veomedical will officially distribute Lindhe Xtend products throughout Germany. Their established network and local market knowledge will help ensure that our solutions become even more accessible to clinicians and users across the country.

Service is central to Veomedical’s philosophy. That is why they place great value on hands-on product testing and close collaboration with customers, ensuring that each solution is carefully evaluated and well supported from selection through everyday use.

Through this collaboration, we combine Veomedical’s strong regional presence with Lindhe Xtend’s user-driven innovation. Together, we will be able to offer consistent, high-quality support to both existing and new customers and continue developing solutions that meet real clinical needs.

We see this partnership as an important milestone in our journey to make life easier, safer, and more active for people with limb loss. We’re excited about what we can achieve together and look forward to a long-term collaboration that creates real value for the German O&P community.

For inquiries, please contact:


Veomedical: Rene Schiller, CEO  r.schiller@veomedical.com
+49 151 1033 1184

Lindhe Xtend: Jessika Broström CEO, jessika@lindhe.se
+46 728 57 13 01

Read more about Veomedical (German only) at: www.veomedical.de

Welcome to all our German customers – both new and existing!

Veomedical GmbH – Unser neuer Vertriebspartner in Deutschland

Unter dem Leitgedanken Simple. Safe. Active. ist das in Pulheim ansässige Unternehmen Veomedical ein etablierter und geschätzter Partner im Bereich Orthopädie- und Rehatechnik. Mit langjähriger Erfahrung, starkem Kundenfokus und einem tiefen Verständnis für klinische Anforderungen sucht Veomedical kontinuierlich nach innovativen Lösungen, die für Anwender:innen und Fachkräfte gleichermaßen einen echten Mehrwert schaffen. Dieses gemeinsame Innovationsverständnis ist einer der Hauptgründe für die Partnerschaft mit Lindhe Xtend.

Ab heute freuen wir uns bekannt zu geben, dass Veomedical offiziell den Vertrieb der Lindhe Xtend Produkte in ganz Deutschland übernimmt. Dank ihres etablierten Netzwerks und ihrer umfassenden Marktkenntnis werden unsere Lösungen für Anwender:innen und Fachbetriebe im gesamten Bundesgebiet noch besser zugänglich sein.

Service steht im Mittelpunkt der Philosophie von Veomedical. Daher legt das Unternehmen großen Wert auf praxisnahe Produkttests und eine enge Zusammenarbeit mit Kund:innen – von der Produktauswahl bis hin zur täglichen Anwendung. So wird sichergestellt, dass jede Lösung sorgfältig geprüft und optimal unterstützt wird.

Durch diese Zusammenarbeit verbinden wir Veomedicals starke regionale Präsenz mit der anwenderorientierten Innovationskraft von Lindhe Xtend. Gemeinsam können wir bestehenden und neuen Kund:innen eine verlässliche, qualitativ hochwertige Betreuung bieten und weiterhin Lösungen entwickeln, die echten klinischen Anforderungen gerecht werden.

Wir sehen diese Partnerschaft als wichtigen Meilenstein auf unserem Weg, das Leben von Menschen mit Amputation einfacher, sicherer und aktiver zu gestalten. Wir freuen uns auf eine langfristige Zusammenarbeit und darauf, gemeinsam nachhaltigen Mehrwert für die deutsche O&P-Community zu schaffen.


Kontakt für Anfragen:

Veomedical: Rene Schiller, CEO  r.schiller@veomedical.com
+49 151 1033 1184

Lindhe Xtend: Jessika Broström CEO, jessika@lindhe.se
+46 728 57 13 01

Mehr Informationen zu Veomedical finden Sie unter: www.veomedical.de

Herzlich willkommen an alle unsere deutschen Kundinnen und Kunden – sowohl neue als auch bestehende!

A Career in O&P: 44 Years of Craft, Change, and Innovation

I started my career in O&P in 1981 as a technician making $7.00 an hour. Ronald Reagan was just starting his first term, gas cost $1.35, my car cost $400, and had an 8-track tape player.

To claim I started out as a tech is kind of insulting to the many talented O&P technicians I’ve met through the years. In those early days, I emptied barrels, mixed plaster, swept floors, and tried not to get in the way. I eventually got to help drape plastic onto AFOs and trim and finish scoliosis braces – I had arrived. Or at least, I was contributing.

Back then, people still smoked inside at work (a lot), and O&P central fab facilities had zero ventilation. No matter what was getting cooked in the ovens – which, most days, included our lunches.

By the time I entered O&P, plastic had become the go-to material for fabrication, but metal, leather, and wood were still commonly used. Orthotics & Prosthetics was very much a profession of craftsmen. Modifications were done by touch and feel. A big part of the job was improvisation and ingenuity. Need a device lighter? Drill holes in it. Need a posterior stop? Rivet a widget onto the brace. The leg is making noise? Try WD-40. Still making noise? Turn up the radio.

But the profession evolved. Over the past forty years, I’ve witnessed numerous improvements, innovations, and disruptions. By the late 80s, carbon fiber was no longer used only to build airplanes – prosthetics borrowed the material technology and put it to good use for feet that combined durability with energy storage and return.

In the late 80s, I recall a small upstart Nordic company coming to the U.S. with a silicone prosthetic liner that got everyone’s attention.

It wasn’t just new fabrication materials that changed the landscape – technology was entering the conversation. In the 90s, we all became acquainted with the phrase CAD/CAM and tried to decide which software and carver were the best. And of course, as circuit boards shrank and computing power increased, data processing merged with the needs of the limb-loss community to usher in the truly revolutionary age of Microprocessor Knees (MPKs).

In the past decade, 3D printing has demanded our attention and become part of the lexicon. AI now leads the conversation in every profession, including O&P, as we wonder how it will enhance – and inevitably change – the way we care for patients.

Not all changes in O&P over the past 40 years have been driven by high-tech or material breakthroughs. In many cases, it was simply approaching a situation from a different perspective. Nocturnal bracing, adjustable sockets, and cranial helmets all required clinicians to take a slightly different approach than had previously been the norm.

So even after 44 years, I’m still excited by the new things O&P can and will do. And at Lindhe Xtend, we’ve embraced the idea that change should be constant. Disruption of the status quo leads to innovation – and we strive to be agents of change and champions of innovation.

//Russell Cannon, Chief Sales Officer, Lindhe Xtend

 

New Shock & Torsion Foot Released

We’re happy to kick off the new year with the launch of the Xtend Foot Fri – a high-performance prosthetic foot designed for comfortable, confident movement in everyday life.

With built-in shock absorption and torsional rotation, the foot helps reduce impact and stress on the residual limb, supporting smoother, more natural steps. Like all our feet, it offers strong lateral flexibility, including 17° of inversion and eversion, giving users extra stability on uneven ground.

Its slim-profile design makes it a great option for users with limited clearance, without compromising on performance.

For our customers in the United States, we’re happy to share that the foot is PDAC approved under L5987 and L5984.

Want to know more?

Check out the product page or get in touch with us – we’re always happy to help.

 

Preferred Supplier for Eqwal

We are happy to announce a preferred supplier partnership between Eqwal and Lindhe Xtend! 🎉 This collaboration marks a significant step toward advancing innovation and accessibility in the O&P industry. Together, we are committed to providing high-quality prosthetic solutions that empower individuals to move with confidence and comfort. Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this journey to make a greater impact!

Welcome Frida!

Our latest addition to the Operations team is Frida Kristiansson.
She joins us as a Supply Chain and Operations Assistant at our head office in Sweden, so many of you will surely be in touch with her soon.

Frida brings valuable experience from a dynamic start-up/scale-up environment and will be supporting our supply chain, purchasing, and administrative processes.

She has recently returned to her hometown of Halmstad after professional experiences in Stockholm and travel adventures abroad.

We’re lucky to have her on board.
Welcome, Frida!

 

See you at I.S.P.O 2025!

The International Society For Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) is a global non-governmental organization aiming to improve the quality of life for persons who may benefit from prosthetic, orthotic, mobility, and assistive devices. Every other year this organization hosts I.S.P.O World Congress which invites professionals within the industry with the aim of sharing knowledge with each other to push the industry forward.

This year it’s on our home grounds, in Stockholm, Sweden, and our founder Christoffer Lindhe, will be the keynote speaker during the opening ceremony of the Congress. Listen to the incredible story of how Christoffer survived getting run over by a train, losing three limbs, defeating the odds of 1% survival chance, becoming a Paralympian and after that started our prosthetics company – Lindhe Xtend.

Don’t forget to swing by our Booth #C10 to see our latest innovation and play some great midsummer games!

See you at I.S.P.O 16-19 June!